But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

looked. This unhappy woman, says the Rev. T. Scott, 'looked back,' contrary to God's express command, perhaps with a hope of returning, which latter supposition is favoured by our Lord's words, 'Let him not return back: remember Lot's wife.' She was, therefore, instantaneously struck dead and petrified, and thus remained to after ages a visible monument of the Divine displeasure.